By Soni Daniel, Abuja and Demola
Akinyemi, Ilorin

Perturbed by the continued absence of
the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan,
from the country as a result of ill-heath,
the Presidency has resorted to prayers to
quicken her recovery and return to the
country.
Dame Jonathan, a serving Permanent
Secretary in Bayelsa, her home state, was
reportedly flown to a German specialist
hospital two weeks ago for an
undisclosed medical treatment.
But the Presidency has kept mum over
her health condition and whereabouts.
When the media broke the sudden
disappearance of Mrs. Jonathan from the
country, the Presidency was forced to
admit that ‘she went to take a rest’ but
neither disclosed the country where she
was observing the rest nor when she
was expected back at the Aso Rock
Presidential Villa.

While a section of the media speculated
that she went for an operation, others
claimed she was admitted for food
poisoning treatment.

But Sunday Vanguard learnt yesterday
that the condition of Dame Jonathan,
who was reported to be recuperating
and expected back in the country since
last week, was still causing some
concerns to her husband, President
Goodluck Jonathan, and her handlers.
It was gathered that the Presidency had
asked close associates and friends of the
First Lady to continue to render
unceasing intercessory prayers for the
woman to recover from her ailment.

A source close to the Presidency
confirmed that the daily morning
devotion, which Jonathan and her wife
usually attend at the Villa, is being used
to offer special prayers for the First Lady.
The source said, “The President, as you
know, is a very devoted person who has
been praying for the wife and those of
us who are close to them do not stop to
pray for her as well.
“Yesterday (Friday), a special prayer
session was conducted for her and we
know that God Almighty has already
healed her of whatever is afflicting her
and that she will soon join us as she
used to do every morning.”
There were speculations, last night, that
the woman would soon be back in the
country but none of the presidential
spokespersons was willing to talk on the
issue.

Calls put to Dr. Reuben Abati, the
Presidential Media Adviser and Dr. Doyin
Okupe, the Special Adviser on Public
Affairs, were not responded to.

While an online news portal has
maintained that she underwent a
surgery in Germany, others speculate
that she had food poisoning and had
been admitted in Italy.
Despite the claims and counter-claims
over Dame Jonathan’s condition, her
spokesman, Mr. Ayo Osinlu, has insisted
that the President’s wife traveled out of
the country to take a “moment’s rest.”

ACN to the Presidency: ‘Speak out on First
Lady’s health’
Meanwhile, the Action Congress of
Nigeria (ACN)has challenged the Federal
Government to tell Nigerians the truth
about the illness of the First Lady, saying
the people deserved to know.
The National Publicity Secretary of the
ACN ,Alhaji Lai Mohammed, threw the
challenge yesterday in Ilorin, Kwara State
at a welcome reception for former
members of the PDP, ACPN and Accord
Party who defected to the ACN.

He posited that Nigerians deserved to
know the exact situation of the First
Lady’s health status.
The ruling PDP, Mohammed insisted, has
never been truthful to Nigerians on any
national issue ,citing the “many lies the
PDP government churned out to
Nigerians on the illness of the late
President Umaru Yar’Adua”.
The ACN spokesman, who also pointed
out that the PDP Federal Government
government has no solution to the
nation’s problems, accused the
government of lacking the capability to
deliver dividends of democracy to
Nigerians.

Mohammed said the PDP-led
government’s ineptitude has resulted in
the alarming rate of youth
unemployment, epileptic power supply
and general infrastructural decay.

www.vanguardngr.com/2012/09/anxiety-heightens-over-first-ladys-health-presidency-goes-spiritual-seeks-special-prayers/

I join my faith with theirs' and the faith of Church of God to wish her quick recovery in Jesus name!

ACN always doing what they know best, playing politics with somebody's illness.
I think CPC is a better opposition.

Torch1: I join my faith with theirs' and the faith of Church of God to wish her quick recovery in Jesus name!

ACN always doing what they know best, playing politics with somebody's illness.
I think CPC is a better opposition.

you are wrong by saying ACN is playing politics in this situation.she is the first lady of the federal republic of nigeria.tax payers' money is being spent to treat her abroad.we have the right to know the health condtion of our president's wife! Everyone is prone to illness so I don't see why they should continue to hide it. All the same I wish her speedy recovery.